Excavator and pipe layer



Aug. 13, 1940. L A. woobs EXCAVATOR AND PIPE LAYER Filed July 11, 1939 2 Sheets-She}?- 1 .Iawrz/zceA. 15601215;

ATTORN EYS WITNESS 1.. A. wooos 2,211,223

EXCAVATOR AND PIPE LAYER Filed July 11, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Aug. 13, 1940 UNITED STATES PATET OFFECE EXC'AVATOR AND PIPE LAYER Lawrence Alvyn Woods, Venice, Calif.

Application July 11, 1939, Serial No. 283,875 r 9 Claims.

' a pipe layer wherein the excavated opening may be progressively enlarged thus facilitating the forming of the same and substantially reducing the power necessary to rotate the cutters.

Still another object of my invention is to provide a pipe layer of the above-mentioned char acter having a substantially frictionless bearing at the forward end of the pipe sections to hold the cutting bit in a properly aligned position.

Yet another object of my invention is the provision of a pipe layer of the above-mentioned character that is particularly adapted to the side tapping of springs, horizontal, oblique or vertical drilling for prospecting test holes, laying of underground conduits for telegraph or telephone cables, electric lines, and the like, the laying of underground pipe lines adapted to carry gas or liquid, and many other operations of a similar nature.

A further object of my invention is to provide a pipe layer that is simple in construction, inexpensive to manufacture, and efficient and efiicacious in the performance of its duties.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the drawings, forming a part of this specification, and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same,

Figure l is a longitudinal sectional view of a device embodying my invention, and showing the same associated with pipe sections,

Figure 1-a is a fragmentry longitudinal sectional view illustrating the manner in which additional sections may be added to the device to lengthen the same,

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 22 of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view of a race embodying a part of my invention, 7 Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 1,

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 1,

Figure 6 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 66 of Figure 1,

Figure '7 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 1-1 of Figure 1,

Figure 8 is a fragmentary view, partly in section and partly in elevation, and illustrating the manner in which the sections of the conveyer are coupled together,

Figure 9 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 9-9 of Figure 8,

Figure 10 is a fragmentary view showing parts in section and parts in elevation illustrating another way in which sections of the conveyer may be coupled together, and

Figure 11 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line HH of Figure 1.

In the accompanying drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration, is shown a preferred embodiment of my invention, the numerals ill and II designate pipe sections joined together by the conventional coupling 12. The arbor i3 is positioned axially within the sections ill and H and projects substantially beyond the free end M of the section II]. The extremity of the portion of the arbor extending beyond the end of the pipe sections is formed with a reaming bit if having a four-edged cutting tip 86 which develop into radial cutting blades ll, !8, l9,,and 23. Each of the blades ll, l8, l9, and 2!! is formed with a laterally disposed cutting edge 2i adapted to bite into the mold as the reamer i5 is rotated and to convey the detritus along the valleys 22 defined by the blades toward the pipe section ill.

Beaming cutters 23 and 24 are formed on the shank rearwardly of the reamer l5 and spaced The reaming therefrom and from each other. cutter 23 is formed with radially disposed cutting arms or blades 25, 26, 21, and 28 having the angularly disposed cutting ends 29. The cutting ends 29 of the arms 25, 26, 21, and 23 are disposed a greater distance from the center of the arbor l8 than the blades ll, l8, l9, and 22] of the reamer i5, and as the reamer I5 progresses into the ground, the cutting reamer 23 will enlarge the opening formed thereby. The valleys. 3%? defined by the arms of the cutting reamer 23 are contiguous with the periphery of the hub it of the reamer IS in a manner whereby the arms .25, 26, 21, and 28 will not offer any appreciable resistance to the rearward flow of the detritus. The cutting reamer 24, spaced rearwardly of the reamer 23, is formed with radially disposed cutcutting reamer 23 in a manner to enlarge the opening made by the reamer i5 and cutting reamer 23. The valleys 36 defined by the arms 3|, 32, 33, and 34 are contiguous with the periphery of the arbor so that the cutter will not impede the rearward movement of the detritus gathered by the reamer E5 and cutting reamer 23.

The cutting reamer 23 is positioned a substantial distance forwardly of the end M of the pipe section it; the coup-ling El is threadedly mounted on the end and with the end 38 thereof projecting forwardly of the section and terminating adjacent the cutting reamer 24. Th end 38 of the coupling 3'! is internally screw threaded to threadedly receive the retaining ring 39 which cooperates with the retaining ring lil to hold the race ll therebetween. The race it comprises an annular ring 2 having equi-spaced radially disposed studs 43 projecting from the inner periphery thereof. The ring 4i; is adapted to be slidably received by the race ii and with the edge 3 3 thereof in abutting relation with the side 35 of the studs The annular flange of the ring engages the inner periphery of the coupling 37 and is disposed in abutting relation with the end M of the pipe section if The retaining sleeve 33 is adapted to be received by the race ii and with the edge l'i thereof in abutting relation with the sides 38 of the studs 42. The periphery of the annular flange 59 of the retaining ring is screw threaded to threadedly engage the sleeve 3? to hold the collar GB in abutting relation with the pipe section it and the race :35 against displacement therebetween. The outer side of the retaining ring 39 is provided with diametrically opposed indentations 58 adapted to receive the prongs of a tool to permit the sleeve to be rotated from engagement with the coupling is to permit the removal or renewal of the race l 5.

The portion of the arbor l3 intermediate the cutting reamer 2d and the end i l of the pipe id is formed with equi-spaced, radially projecting, helically disposed fins El, 52, and 53, the outer edges of which are formed with slots d which accommodate the studs of the race M. The studs Will be prevented from becoming disengaged from the fins upon rotation of the arbor l3 by reason of the angular positioning of the fins relative thereto, as clearly illustrated in Figure 11. The ends of the studs 53 bear against the inner ends of the slots 54 to hold the edges of the fins spaced slightly from the periphery of the retaining rings 39 and EB, and the forward ends of the fins are formed with depending prongs 55 the edges of which are spaced slightly from the inner periphery of the coupling The coupling is provided with an oil port 5? through which a suitable grease may be introduced to lubricate the race i! and a filler plug 553 is normally disposed therein to prevent debris from gaining access thereto. The arbor it carries a continuous helical web which terminates at the end i l of the pipe section ill. The detritus moved towards the pipe section by the reamer l5 and reamer cutters 23 and 24 is received by the fins 5!, 52, and 53 which, by virtue of their helical formation, will move the same into the helical web 56 where it will be conveyed through the pipe sections ill and H to the far end thereof.

It is often necessary to run a pipe line underneath the ground, and conditions are often such that it is impossible or extremely inconvenient to dig a ditch from the surface of the ground to the requisite depth to receive the pipe. The present device will permit the pipe to be pushed through the ground either horizontally, obliquely, or vertically. The size of the pipe line will be limited only by the size of the power unit available to drive the arbor and to push the pipe sections forwardly as the mold is excavated by the reamer and reamer cutters. Likewise the straight line distance is only determined by the amount of power developed at the power unit.

The coupling 31 is attached to the end of the first pipe section, here identified by the numeral it, to hold the cutting end of the arbor l3 positioned as illustrated in Figure 1. When the end E8 of the reamer 5 is pressed into the wall of earth with the section iii in alignment therewith, and rotation imparted to the arbor iii, the rcamer' will bite into the earth and move the detritus rearwardly thereof and into the pipe section where the helical web will carry it through to .1e open end of the said section. The cutting reamers 23 and i l will enlarge the opening made by the reamer 5, and it will be noted that the arms 3!, 32, and 34 of the cutting reamer 2 extend beyond the outer periphery of the pipe sections so that the opening will be of substantially greater diameter than the pipe sections. As the detritus is moved through the pipe sections, the sections may be pushed into the passage formed by the cutting reamers. It will be noted that the fins 55, 52, and 53 will support the arbor coaxially within the pipe sections 1 (1, that the tip 56 of the reamer l5 will be held in a properly aligned position, and that the race M will no substantial resistance to the rotation of the arbor.

The rearward end of the arbor I3 is formed with an enlarged head portion 58 having with an screw threaded shank 86 which is provided with a central substantially square cul-de-sac SI. The companion arbor 62 is formed with a substantially square head adapted to be received within the cul-de-sac 6i and to cooperate therewith in preventing independent rotation of the arbors l3 and 62. An internally screw threaded sleeve il iis slidably mounted on the arbor G2 and adapted to threadedly receive the shank 6i and to abuttingly engage the shoulder 60, defined by the head 63, to hold the head within the cul-desac 6! and to prevent longitudinal displacement of the said arbors. The head 59 of the arbor I3 is provided with a diametrically disposed bore 86 into which a suitable tool may be fitted to prevent rotation of the arbor l3 when the sleeve 64 is being threaded on the shank Bi Both ends of the arbor 82 are provided with square head portions 63 and in the event that an additional section is required, the section 62 may be added thereto. The coupling 67 is provided with central square cul-de-sacs 68 and 69 at either end thereof which are adapted to receive the square head portions 63 and 63' of the arbor 62 and 62, and either extremity thereof is externally screw threaded to receive the sleeves 64 and G l which abut the heads 53 and 63 to hold the same securely positioned within the cul-de-sac. The coupling G! is provided with a diametrically dsposed bore at substantially the middle thereof in which a suitable tool may be positioned while the sleeves 64 and 6 are being threaded on the coupling.

The arbors 62 and 62' are provided with continuous helical webs H and H. The web H is adapted to abut the extremities of the web 56 on the arbor 62 when the arbor 62 is connected to the arbor l3, and the web 'H' is adapted to abut the free end of the web II when the arbor 62 is connected to the arbor 62.

It may thus be seen that additional sections of the screw conveyers within the pipe sections may be added as additional pipe sections are connected to the sections H3 and II, and that the detritus within the pipe sections will be moved by the webs to the free or operating end thereof,

Thrust that has been borne by the arbor that drives the reamer, in tools heretofore employed, is borne by the pipe sections in the operation of the present device.

This thrust is transferred from the pipe sections through the race 4! of the bearing for the arbor, to the reamer, thus avoiding a considerable amount of strain upon the arbor l3. Greater strength is obtained by using the pipe sections for carrying the thrust, than by using the arbor.

Power is applied by any suitable means to the pipe sections H), H, to effect forward movement of the pipe sections and thereby to effect forward movement of the reamer l5. Rotation of the reamer is efiected by rotating the arbor by any suitable power means.

It is to be understood that the form of my invention, herewith shown and described, is to be taken as a preferred example of the same, and that various changes in the size, shape and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of my invention, or the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A boring device of the character described comprising the combination of a tube, a relatively rotary arbor in the tube, a bearing rotatively supported by the tube, means in the tube supporting the arbor in the bearing, and a reamer connected to be rotated by the arbor and arranged to receive forward thrust of the tube through the intermediary of the bearing.

2. A boring device of the character described comprising the combination of a tube, a relatively rotary arbor in the tube, a support rotatively supporting the arbor in the tube, the tube having an abutment limiting inward movement of the support within the tube, means having a threaded connection with the tube and clamping the support in the tube opposite the abutment, the support being arranged to transfer lengthwise movement of the tube to the arbor, and a reamer connected to be rotated by the arbor and to receive lengthwise movements of the arbor.

3. A boring device of the character described comprising the combination of a tube, a relatively rotary arbor in the tube, a support rotatively supporting the arbor in the tube, the tube having an abutment limiting inward movement of the support within the tube, a floating bearing member between the support and the abutment, means having a threaded connection with the tube and clamping the support opposite the abutment and thereby maintaining the floating bearing member in position, the support being arranged to transfer lengthwise movement of the tube to the arbor, and a reamer connected to be rotated by the arbor and to receive lengthwise movements of the arbor.

- 4. A boring device of the character described comprising the combination of a tube, a relatively rotary arbor in the tube, a bearing wholly contained within the tube and arranged to rotatively support the arbor in the tube, the bearing being also arranged to receive longitudinal thrust of the tube and to transmit such thrust to the arbor, and a reamer on the arbor disposed to be moved longitudinally by the thrust of the arbor received from the tube.

5. A boring device of the character described comprising the combination of a tube, a relatively rotary arbor in the tube, a support rotatively supporting the arbor in the tube, the support having relatively movable elements, one of the elements being mounted upon the arbor and rotatively supporting the arbor in the tube, another element having a threaded connection with the tube and engaging the element mounted on the arbor, to transfer lengthwise movement of the tube to thearbor, and a reamer connected to be rotated by the arbor.

6. In a boring device having a reamer, the combination of a tube, a helical web rotatively supported in the tube and arranged to feed rearwardly in the tube detritus dislodged by the reamer, the reamer being mounted on the web at an end thereof, and an element disposed to receive forward thrust of the tube and engaging the web to transfer that thrust to the reamer through the web while permitting rotation of the web.

7. A boring device of the character described comprising the combination of a tube, a relatively rotary arbor in the tube, a helical web on the arbor, an element of a bearing abutting an end of the tube, to receive forward thrust of the tube, another element of the bearing rotatively supporting the web in the tube, the latter element being arranged to receive the thrusts from the first-mentioned element and to transfer same to the web, a third element of the bearing arranged on the tube to transfer longitudinal movement of the tube to the web through the bearing, upon withdrawing the tube, and a reamer connected to be rotated by the arbor.

8. A boring device of the character described comprising the combination of a tube, a relatively rotary arbor in the tube, a bearing in the tube, spokes in the tube rotatively supporting the arbor upon the bearing, and a helical web on the arbor, the spokes being arranged to feed detritus to the web.

9. A boring device of the character described comprising the combination of a tube, a relatively rotary arbor in the tube, a bearing having a race in the tube, spokes rotatively supporting the arbor upon the race, a helical web on the arbor, the spokes having cupped members ahead of the bearing and the feed end of the tube, to scoop up detritus and feed same to the helical web.

LAWRENCE ALVYN WOODS. 

